The New York Times reports that the U.S. State Department is preparing to designate eight Latin American organized crime groups as terrorists. Among these, five are Mexican drug cartels. The announcement is expected to be made soon, with the following cartels being included:
1. Sinaloa Cartel
2. Jalisco Nueva Generación Cartel (CJNG)
3. La Familia Michoacana
4. Cárteles Unidos
5. Cartel del Noreste
Cartel Histories
Sinaloa Cartel
Founded in the early 1990s as an offshoot of the Guadalajara Cartel, the Sinaloa Cartel was initially led by Héctor “El Güero” Palma Salazar and Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán. The cartel gained prominence with leaders like Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, Juan José “El Azul” Esparragoza, and Ignacio “Nacho” Coronel. The cartel operates through alliances rather than a single dominant leader. Since “El Chapo” Guzmán’s capture in 2016 and his extradition in 2017, his sons, known as “Los Chapitos,” have formed a faction within the cartel, leading to internal conflicts with another faction, “La Mayiza,” led by Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada’s sons.
Jalisco Nueva Generación Cartel (CJNG)
The CJNG emerged from the Milenio Cartel after the death of Sinaloa Cartel leader Ignacio Coronel in 2010. The resulting power vacuum led to the formation of two factions: La Resistencia and Los Torcidos, with the latter evolving into the CJNG. Led by Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho,” the CJNG has become a major transnational criminal organization.
La Familia Michoacana
Originally part of the Milenio Cartel, La Familia Michoacana was formed in response to the growing influence of Los Zetas in Michoacán. The group was created as a private surveillance organization to combat methamphetamine trafficking and addiction. La Familia Michoacana successfully expelled Los Zetas from Michoacán and expanded its influence to other states, including Guerrero, Querétaro, Jalisco, Guanajuato, and Morelos.
Cárteles Unidos
Cárteles Unidos is an alliance formed to counter the rise of the CJNG in Michoacán. The group includes the Tepalcatepec Cartel and Los Viagras and is active in the Tierra Caliente region. Initially, the alliance included members of the Sinaloa Cartel, Knights Templar, Gulf Cartel, and CJNG, but internal conflicts led to fragmentation.
Cartel del Noreste
The Cartel del Noreste (CDN) is a successor to Los Zetas. In October 2024, the U.S. Department of Justice unsealed an indictment against CDN leaders, including Miguel Treviño Morales (“Z-40”) and Omar Treviño Morales (“Z-42”), accusing them of various criminal activities, including drug trafficking, firearms offenses, and money laundering.
The designation of these cartels as terrorist organizations marks a significant step in the U.S. government’s efforts to combat organized crime and enhance security measures. The decision underscores the severity of the threats posed by these criminal groups.
Source: El Universal
